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Raw chicken bones for cats

post #1 of 23
7/9/11 at 7:27am
Thread Starter 
I've recently learned that some people feed their cats raw chicken wing and neck bones. It's supposed to be great nutrition and healthy for their teeth. Does anyone do this? What are your thoughts? I know that you're never supposed to feed them cooked bones because they splinter. Thanks!
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post #2 of 23
7/9/11 at 7:37am
I used to do this. My cat doesn't like raw but I've had other cats that do. I will for any future cats as well.
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post #3 of 23
7/9/11 at 8:00am
Not just bones, when I buy whole chickens, the cats (and dog) get the entire raw wings, necks and organs, and skin, unless I'll be roasting or grilling, then skin stays on.

My oldest cat is 17, never had a dental, has never needed one, beautiful teeth.

If i had the freezer space, I'd love to go raw completely, just not an option at this point.
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post #4 of 23
7/9/11 at 10:24am
I'm a full time raw feeder and the cats get bone-in meals three times a week. One is chicken wings (just the first two joints), one is chicken ribs (I cut the ribs off the thickest part of the bone) and the third is sometimes rabbit ribs/small bones and sometimes chicken wings again.

And yes, it does wonders for their teeth. In all honesty, however, bone-in meals are only part of the equation. The rest is the slicing and scissoring action of working through raw meat chunks, sinew, tendons and skin three times a day, every day.

I'm not recommending against a chicken wing here or there, just providing the whole story.

Best regards.

AC
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post #5 of 23
7/9/11 at 11:57am
My cat doesn't like wings as much, there isn't much meat and they take some effort to get through the skin and she's lazy. Drumsticks and wings she'll eat most of if I smash them a bit with a hammer.
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post #6 of 23
7/9/11 at 12:31pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks so much, all! My "kids" have been eating mostly raw for over 2 years now, but never knew that bones would be OK. This is great news, since dental cleanings are so expensive and stressful. I'm going to give it a try!
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post #7 of 23
7/20/11 at 7:05am
Woah they can eat raw meat? and bones? I never knew that, I should try that sometime,
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post #8 of 23
7/20/11 at 12:32pm
Talking about other parts than wings.
Hearts are especielly good and nourishing. It contains also more calcium than common muscle meat.
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post #9 of 23
7/21/11 at 11:23am
I used to feed my Italian Mastiffs raw. The butcher used to save me all the chicken backs for free, since they throw those away. They'd also get stew meat, chopped meat, just about anything we were having for dinner, I'd separate the dogs before cooking ours.

They also ate frozen vegetables (still frozen) as treats. Never saw shinier coats or pure beautiful muscle mass!

I'll try raw for Kairi when he's a little bigger, right now while he's growing I want to be positive he's getting all his nutrition in the small quantity that kittens can eat.
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post #10 of 23
7/24/11 at 8:14am
Thread Starter 
I gave my kitties raw chicken wings this week. They loved 'em! However, I didn't expect how messy the feast would be. Instead of chewing the wings in their bowls in the kitchen, they grabbed them and dragged them off to various places in the house! Yikes! I can only imagine the bacteria trail... I've got a freezer full of wings from WholeFoods and I'll definitely do it again, soon. For cats that enjoy a raw diet, I highly recommend this. (And my vet gave it a thumbs up, too!)
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post #11 of 23
7/24/11 at 7:02pm
I throw a hand towel on the floor and when the cat moves the food off, I move it back, it didn't take long for mine to pick up the idea.
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post #12 of 23
7/25/11 at 11:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Petfindergal View Post
I gave my kitties raw chicken wings this week. They loved 'em! However, I didn't expect how messy the feast would be. Instead of chewing the wings in their bowls in the kitchen, they grabbed them and dragged them off to various places in the house! Yikes! I can only imagine the bacteria trail... I've got a freezer full of wings from WholeFoods and I'll definitely do it again, soon. For cats that enjoy a raw diet, I highly recommend this. (And my vet gave it a thumbs up, too!)
Welcome. You've just been initiated to raw feeding! (This is the primary reason my cats are crate-trained for meals.)

AC
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post #13 of 23
7/31/11 at 10:15pm
Good stuff! I'm reading about the best diet for cats and all articles lead me to raw feeding. I've got a bigger reason to feed raw as I can't find good wet-cat food where I live. Right now my cat is recovering from diarrhea so he's getting four & half cleaned raw fish a day (vet's recommendation). In the future, I'll be introducing raw chicken to his diet.
Any idea of the amount of food a cat should get when feeding on raw?
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post #14 of 23
8/1/11 at 8:18am
It's safe to feed a cat chicken bones?

I've always been afraid of choking. I know you can't give a dog chicken bones...
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post #15 of 23
8/1/11 at 9:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JAY48 View Post
Good stuff! I'm reading about the best diet for cats and all articles lead me to raw feeding. I've got a bigger reason to feed raw as I can't find good wet-cat food where I live. Right now my cat is recovering from diarrhea so he's getting four & half cleaned raw fish a day (vet's recommendation). In the future, I'll be introducing raw chicken to his diet.
Any idea of the amount of food a cat should get when feeding on raw?
Take a look at the first post in this thread, that should get you started: Natural Diet Information Resources

Also, Feline-Nutrition.org, CatInfo.org, and RawFedCats.org all have very good info about raw feeding.

After you've read a bit, if you have specific questions, pop over to TCS's Raw Feeding forum and post them; we have several knowledgeable raw feeders who would be happy to help.

AC
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post #16 of 23
8/1/11 at 10:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by QuarktheCat View Post
It's safe to feed a cat chicken bones?

I've always been afraid of choking. I know you can't give a dog chicken bones...
You can give a dog raw chicken bones.

Raw being key, cooked bones splinter, and of course your dog must be a chewer, not a swallow it whole kind of dog.
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post #17 of 23
8/1/11 at 11:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JAY48 View Post
Good stuff! I'm reading about the best diet for cats and all articles lead me to raw feeding. I've got a bigger reason to feed raw as I can't find good wet-cat food where I live. Right now my cat is recovering from diarrhea so he's getting four & half cleaned raw fish a day (vet's recommendation). In the future, I'll be introducing raw chicken to his diet.
Any idea of the amount of food a cat should get when feeding on raw?
If by cleaned fish you mean removal of guts, bones, and head, and you are feeding nothing else, this is not a complete diet. Not to mention that even whole fish are not nutritionally complete and full of hard metals. I would recommend reading those links Auntie Crazy gave you.
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post #18 of 23
8/3/11 at 9:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by QuarktheCat View Post
It's safe to feed a cat chicken bones?

I've always been afraid of choking. I know you can't give a dog chicken bones...
Sure you can, my dogs eat raw chicken regularly. They have eaten raw exclusively for years now. I haven't transitioned the kittens to raw yet though.
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post #19 of 23
8/3/11 at 1:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by QuarktheCat View Post
It's safe to feed a cat chicken bones?

I've always been afraid of choking. I know you can't give a dog chicken bones...
Yes it is, but they MUST be raw and NEVER cooked bones. Just don't give them the bones, feed them the bone with the meat on. You will find this is an excellent way for your cat to keep their teeth clean. All my wildcats are fed a raw meat diet with bone. They do not have the dental issues that cats fed a commercial diet do. Especially if you feed dry food.
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post #20 of 23
8/5/11 at 7:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy View Post
Take a look at the first post in this thread, that should get you started: Natural Diet Information Resources

Also, Feline-Nutrition.org, CatInfo.org, and RawFedCats.org all have very good info about raw feeding.

After you've read a bit, if you have specific questions, pop over to TCS's Raw Feeding forum and post them; we have several knowledgeable raw feeders who would be happy to help.

AC
Thanks! I'll visit those links. I'll be introducing my cat to raw chicken in the coming week; I hope he'll like it!
How often do you feed your cats? I am currently feeding him thrice a day (at roughly 8 hour intervals). I tried twice a day feeding but he always wants more at odd times so I broke his daily portion to three small meals.
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post #21 of 23
8/5/11 at 12:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JAY48 View Post
Thanks! I'll visit those links. I'll be introducing my cat to raw chicken in the coming week; I hope he'll like it!
How often do you feed your cats? I am currently feeding him thrice a day (at roughly 8 hour intervals). I tried twice a day feeding but he always wants more at odd times so I broke his daily portion to three small meals.
Three times a day is the minimum I recommend cats be fed (at least four times a day for kittens), and that's how I feed mine; cats evolved to eat many small meals a day and can get upset tummies if they go too long without eating (and 12 hours - or twice a day - usually is too long).

AC
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post #22 of 23
8/5/11 at 5:58pm
my cats are raw fed, and they frequently eat raw chicken legs, thighs, necks, and organs, as well as occasional pork chops, turkey wings, frozen feeder mice, etc. they go BALLISTIC when i bring home a rabbit from the farmer's market. i cut it up into three large hunks (for three meals), and not a scrap of it gets left uneaten. they're phenomenally happy and healthy too.
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post #23 of 23
8/10/11 at 8:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by PatrickCampbell View Post
Raw chicken bones, chicken necks and wings are the best diet for cats and there is no harm if they take raw bones in their diet. Cats usually prefer slightly softer and smaller bones. But, cats should not be given cooked chicken bones.
Just throwing in a slight clarification: "Raw chicken bones, chicken necks and wings are PART of the best diet for cats (~10% to be precise)." A balanced raw diet includes 80% meats and some liver and organs as well as the bone.

AC
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